Colorado health insurance enrollments ticking upward

Health insurance enrollments through the state's new marketplace ticked upward during the first two weeks of November.

Nearly 2,600 people gained coverage by under plans purchased through Connect for Health Colorado from Nov. 1 through Saturday, according to statistics released Monday.

The new enrollments brought to 6,001 the number of people covered under plans bought in the exchange since it opened on Oct. 1.

No demographic data was released by the marketplace Monday. Officials overseeing Connect for Health Colorado set a goal of covering 136,000 people with insurance plans purchased through the exchange by Dec. 31, 2014.

Colorado's state-run marketplace was created after passage of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, as a way to help people find newly-mandated health insurance. It's separate from Healthcare.gov, the troubled federally-run exchange responsible for policies in 36 states.

People have until Dec. 15 to purchase health insurance if they want coverage to begin on Jan. 1. Open enrollment ends March 31.

The law also brought about the expansion of Medicaid coverage in Colorado to nearly anyone making up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, though certain rules effectively raise that benchmark in 2014 to 138 percent.

As of Saturday, 47,309 Coloradans have signed up for their newly-eligible benefits, according to a statement by the marketplace. More than 160,000 people across Colorado are newly eligible for Medicaid.